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Superstorm Sandy ravaged West Hamilton Beach Volunteer Fire Department
in Queens, N.Y., flooding the fire station with 5 feet of water and
ruining all of its rescue equipment.

A fire engine donated Wednesday by North
Huntingdon's Larimer Volunteer Fire Department will help to replenish
the New York department's fleet.

“We lost all the equipment in the
firehouse,” said Mitch Udowitch, treasurer of West Hamilton Beach
department. “It's amazing how people throughout the community came to
help — and the country.”

Donations of equipment have poured in from
fire stations across the nation, including Hooversville and Berlin in
Somerset County, Udowitch said. Fire departments in Mississippi and
Georgia donated equipment.

The fierce storm battered the eastern
seaboard on Oct. 29, trashing three fire engines, a brush truck and two
ambulances at the Queens department.

During the storm, the West Hamilton Beach crew rescued two women trapped in a house, Udowitch said.

“Hamilton Beach is approximately 20 to 40
feet below sea level to begin with. ... The hurricane hit land at a full
moon and high tide,” he said. “It just kept coming.”

The brick-and-cinder block fire station in
Queens survived the storm but needed a new roof and some interior work.
The storm left the department without electricity for six weeks.

Bill Hardy, chief of the Larimer fire
department, saw photographs online of inundated New York fire
departments and offered to help the West Hamilton Beach company.

“We'll do whatever we can to help them out,” Hardy said.

Larimer got a new fire engine in August, which replaced the donated truck.

Udowitch and John Abouricheh, another
firefighter from the Queens department, picked up the 1986 engine in
North Huntingdon Wednesday and planned to drive it back to New York.
Udowitch said the department plans to use Larimer's donated truck to
respond primarily to brush fires.

The Queens department operates solely with donations — without tax revenue, he said.

“Between these guys and Somerset County, I
can't say enough,” Udowitch said. “(With their donation), these guys
complete what we needed.”

Rossilynne Skena is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 724-836-6646 or rskena@tribweb.com.

Sunday, April 14, 2013
A Great Thank You goes to the State of Louisiana and the Louisiana State Office of Fire Marshals for extending a helping hand when our department was in immediate need of an apparatus enabling us to serve our community that was devastated after Hurricane Sandy. The connection between the Louisiana State Fire Marshal and our department would not be possible with out the never ending support we receive from the Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund.

The 2002 Ferrara known as "The Spirit of Louisiana" and a great connection to New York as it helped in the aide of our city after September 11th. The truck was later sent to Louisiana by FDNY to aide in Hurricane Katrina Recovery efforts. This truck is a rolling piece of dedication and what has become history.

While with WHBFD it responded to numerous alarms, including multiple MVC, as well as an attic fire and two large area brush fires.

Saturday, April 13, 2013
The West Hamilton Beach Fire Dept. will be hosting its 3rd annual blood drive with the New York Blood Center on Saturday, April 13th from 9 am-1:30 pm. It will be held at the fire house which is located at 102-33 Davenport Ct. Howard Beach, NY 11414. Corner of 104 ST & Davenport Ct.

Please visit the event page on Facebook and respond to the event. Also feel free to send the invite and/or forward this email to friends and family. Any questions about donating can be answered by visiting the NY Blood Center website (see below) or by calling 800-688-0900.

Your donation will help to save up to THREE lives. Our community hospitals need your help. Please share this lifesaving gift! Thank you for caring!

Wednesday, April 10, 2013
E-946, A947-3, DC942 & Capt943 responded to the report of a brush fire at 78th Street between 158 and 159 Avenues. Upon arrival FDNY E331 transmitted the box for a large area brush fire. E-946 was able to extinguish the fire from the east as FDNY E331 did so from the west. The fire was able to destroy approximately 2 acres of wildland.

Tuesday, April 9, 2013
A947-3 Responded to the report of an overturned vehicle on the Belt parkway. Upon arrival A947-3 had a total patient count of 6 patients. The vehicle was headed east-bound on the Nassau Expressway when it some how lost control sending it over the guard rail and down onto the east-bound Belt Parkway. All patients were transported to various trauma hospitals. The patients were extricated by FDNY E331 & L173.

Wednesday, March 27, 2013
A947-3 responded to the report of a pedestrian struck on the Belt Parkway. Upon arrival a female patient had been trying to cross the belt parkway when she walked in front of a motorcycle, which struck her.

Both patients were transported to Jamaica Hospital in critical condition.

Friday, March 15, 2013
The five volunteer fire departments of Queens District 32 were
recognized and honored by the City Council for their work during and
after Super Storm Sandy.
The West Hamilton Beach Volunteer Fire Department, Broad Channel VFD,
Roxbury VFD, Point Breeze VFD and Rockaway Point VFD were awarded a
City Council proclamation by Speaker Christine Quinn and Councilman Eric
Ulrich before the Stated Meeting of the City Council on Wednesday,
February 27th.

Honoring the volunteer fire departments was the least the City
Council could do to thank them for their heroism and for the role they
play in keeping the community safe. Their response to the storm and
their numerous acts of going above and beyond the call of duty were
proof of just how important they are to the communities of the Rockaways
and Broad Channel.

Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Engine 946 responded to a report of a brush fire at 159 avenue and 78th Street, The fire was transmitted to a Second Alarm. The scene of the fire is being investigated by NYPD due to the findings of a homicide.

Sunday, February 24, 2013
WHBFD Deputy Chief Zych and Captain Corchado arrived in Cobb County, Georgia to receive a great donation of a Pierce Pumper. They were welcomed with open arms by the members of the Cobb County Fire Department who had prepared breakfast for them. DC Zych and Captain Corchado successfully drove the rig from Georgia to our Firehouse over the weekend of Feb 23rd without any speed bumps.